We chat with author Sarah Adams about The Rule Book, which is an enemies to lovers, second-chance romance and follows college exes who break all the rules when they reunite years later, and the highly anticipated companion novel to the TikTok sensation The Cheat Sheet.
Hi, Sarah! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Well, for starters, I was born and raised in Nashville, TN where I still live with my husband, two daughters, cat, and golden retriever. My husband and I lived a real life brother’s-bestfriend-trope because we met through my older brother! My wardrobe mostly consists of comfy sweatshirts and I have an iced coffee almost daily. Shows like Gilmore Girls, Friends, and New Girl have inspired my writing the most, and I consider my biggest flex to be that I’m most known for giving my readers Sarah-tonin J
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve always been an avid reader, and romance has been my genre of choice from the start. When I was in high school, I had a creative writing teacher who inspired me unlike any other, and really helped me find joy in creating new worlds on paper. I wrote a romance short story for that class, but what made me really fall in love with writing was reading my teacher’s feedback and hearing how the story made her feel.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: A Wrinkle in TIme
- The one that made you want to become an author: Pride and Prejudice
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Hating Game (I think that book altered my brain chemistry)
Your latest novel, The Rule Book, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
- Playful
- Sexy
- Endearing
- Hopeful
- Empowering
What can readers expect?
A really good time! This book is meant for brightening days, lifting moods, and obviously making you squeal and kick your feet.
Where did the inspiration for The Rule Book come from?
I got the idea for the story while writing The Cheat Sheet. I liked Derek a lot in that book and could totally picture his story playing out like a movie in my head. I knew that under the surface he wasn’t the guy that everyone saw him as and that idea really intrigued me.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I LOVED writing the relationship between Nora and her boss Nicole. Those two are complete opposites, and it was a last to write about two different women thriving in their industry together and showing how that might look.
What do you love about writing within the romance genre?
I love that we get to explore complex emotions and ideas, but often in a very palatable and relatable way. For me, reading and writing in romance is therapeutic, because a lot of the time, I write about the emotions and ideas I’m walking through in real life. Romance gives plenty of space for me to dive into my feelings.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently writing the third book in my Rome, Kentucky series! And before that new release, I have the privilege of re-releasing my previously self-published books with my publisher. I was able to revist those stories and add fun new content—so I can’t wait for those to be on bookshelves this summer and fall.
Lastly, are there any book releases that you’re looking forward to picking up this year?
I am very excited for Business Casual by BK Borison! It’s the last installment in her Inglewild series and I know it’s going to be incredible.
